Politics & Government

Mason District Supervisor Bringing Diversity Program to Falls Church Mosque

Penny Gross said she has held program for almost 10-years to open the lines of communication in Northern Virginia.

You don’t have to be a Muslim to attend the Kaleidoscope program at the in Falls Church Wednesday night.

In celebration of Ramadan, the center will host the program created by Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross. The program recognizes diversity and promotes understanding and cooperation between the various cultural groups in Northern Virginia. Gross said the program started as a discussion group in 1998 and some of the members of the mosque were in attendance then.

She said it was a mutual connection for the two groups to come together and open the lines of communication.

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“There were folks from the mosque there and they asked if we would like to hold our monthly meeting at their place during Ramadan,” Gross said. “It’s a community night and we’re able to observe the prayers and meal that break the daily fast.”

Johari Abdul-Malik, imam at the center, said they have held Gross’ program for close to a decade. He said the presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be followed by a dinner to break fast after sundown in recognition of Ramadan. Ramadan, a Muslim observance that gives followers a time to gain God conscientiousness through fasting, lasts for 30 days. Abdul-Malik said Muslims follow a lunar calendar and Ramadan, which runs through Aug. 18 this year, falls in the ninth month.

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Gross said the biggest thing to come from the Kaleidoscope meeting is the dialogue between the various ethnic groups that attend the presentation. She said the meal served at the mosque is amazing and brings people from all walks of life out.

“When you get people together to break bread, you get good dialogue,” she said.

Abdul-Malik said motorists should avoid Leesburg Pike between Columbia Pike and Seven Corners if they can. He said there will be heavy traffic near the mosque, as hundreds of Muslims will be crossing the busy road around sundown for prayer and to break fast daily. Fairfax County police will help control traffic in the area, he said.


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